NatWest Challenge 2005/1st match-Headingley Thursday 7th July.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Oliver

And they'd've known by then too...

The Yank who runs the tube was in the Press Conference with all the other emergency services chiefs, and he said that they did not know, in the control room, what the issue was to start off with, and it did appear like a power surge as the electricity thingys had tripped off, or whatever.

So the initial statement from the driver of my Tube, when he said power surges meant that the tube network as a whole was being shut down, were probably the limits of his knowledge, at 0915/0920 hrs. The tubes were emptied, and soon thereafter the station was evacuated - that was when they found out that there had been two "incidents" and hence the higher alert (amber?) kicked in. It was not till I came outside and found a taxi that I found out that there had been at least one explosion.

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by Aussie-Yank

The conditions that where in play today I think Kasper would have been a better option with his ability to swing the ball. Although there was a huge difference in pitch conditions in when Australia batted, than when England is Batting now.

Well, if you want to argue about conditions and who picked the right or wrong players, I'd have to say that Vaughan picking Ashley Giles has got to be the biggest slice of humbling pie ever.

"Ah yes, let's play Ashley as a batsman, besides we'll beat them by nine wickets so long as I win the toss, and we all play with great focus. Yup that's right, Ashley'll be a dead useful selection."

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Oliver

Ashley'll be a dead useful selection."

Is Ashley the new Gareth Batty?

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Is Ashley the new Gareth Batty?

No, but he is Michael Vaughan's best mate.

[Kirsty Harris]

Ashley Giles was practically first in line to congratulate Tres as he came off the pitch, and therefore he still contributed more to the match than Solanki the 'super sub' who spent the day doing not-a-lot!! Anways, It's worth having Gilo in the side just for his batting these days...

Anyway, another good win for England. I thought Vaughan played very well, and it was nice that Tres finally got a ton against the Aussies. That will set him up well for the summer.

Very, very easy for England today. I remain confident about our Ashes prospects, in fact my confidence is growing by the day

[flanflinger]

Anyway back onto this game..

I am convinced that England are the in-form team in ODI's now, the worrying thing for Australia is that I feel England are a poor ODI team, and are actually better in Tests.

The same could easily be said for Australia... The problem they have is, apart from McGrath, all thier in-form players Hussey, Symonds and Possibly Lee, are not going to be playing Tests. Will Shane Warne make that much difference?

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Kirsty Harris

I remain confident about our Ashes prospects, in fact my confidence is growing by the day

I think the good thing from England's point of view today were:

1. Vaughan not getting himself out, and playing like it was a proper Test innings,
2. Tresco getting himself out off a no-ball, and then going on to play very sensible afterwards, and
3. Gillespie still being a pale imitation of himself, which leaves Aussies a bowler (or two) short.

These Ashes may end up being closer than I thought...

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Maranello

These Ashes may end up being closer than I thought...

Now your talking, Maranello!!!

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by Maranello

I think the good thing from England's point of view today were:

1. Vaughan not getting himself out, and playing like it was a proper Test innings,
2. Tresco getting himself out off a no-ball, and then going on to play very sensible afterwards, and
3. Gillespie still being a pale imitation of himself, which leaves Aussies a bowler (or two) short.

These Ashes may end up being closer than I thought...

All good points here, pal. I think the third one could be key. Australia have thrived on building pressure in the field, and having quality bowlers at both ends is important in this. Now, on the Gillespie thread, our antipodean friends are raising real concerns that Gillepsie isn't merely having a slump in form, but that he's lost a bit because of all the injuries he's had. If he's going to average 50 with the ball instead of 25, then the Aussie attack will lose quite a bit of effectiveness. England will be able to afford to be more watchful against McGrath and attack Gillespie. One lethal opening bowler is much less effective than having a lethal pair of openers.

[Trescothick]

Originally Posted by Kirsty Harris

Ashley Giles was practically first in line to congratulate Tres as he came off the pitch, and therefore he still contributed more to the match than Solanki the 'super sub' who spent the day doing not-a-lot!! Anways, It's worth having Gilo in the side just for his batting these days...

...Very, very easy for England today. I remain confident about our Ashes prospects, in fact my confidence is growing by the day

However Solanki made History today while Giles didn't quite get in any record books

I wouldn't say EASY for England today. People are forgetting the struggle Strauss and Tresco had to put up with and they pushed on and made some big scores and really settled down. Had they not survived then we could have found ourselves much further down and probably in trouble at say 50-5 again.. The pitch didn't suddenly become perfect, it was still tough conditions.

2. Tresco getting himself out off a no-ball, and then going on to play very sensible afterwards,

He knew it was a no-ball and so did that on purpose just to tease the Aussies... J/K however had Lee not over-stepped.. The stroke may well have been different and Mcgrath wouldnt have got the catch.